Each month, we love to highlight the outstanding talent here at KORE. Through our KORE Connections blog series, we showcase the people who work hard every day to bring you the connectivity solutions you know and love. For November, we are thrilled to give the stage to Amanda Craig, VP of Customer Support and Migrations.
Although Amanda was raised on Bell Island, Newfoundland, she has called Kitchener, Ontario home for many years now. She and her partner have two sweet dogs, Fozzie and Teddy, who sometimes make an appearance in the background of meetings! Amanda graduated from university with both a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts, and even though she started her career in finance, she has worked in technology the last 15 years.
When she’s not working, Amanda spends time volunteering with Sunbeam Community Development Services and the Kitchener Waterloo Stratford Perth Humane Society.
Q: What has been your experience joining the KORE family? What has surprised you?
A: I joined KORE in January of 2023 and felt like it took at least a year until I could finally say that I was no longer ‘new.’ My area of responsibility has evolved over the last (nearly) 2 years and now includes the customer support organisation.
Since I joined the finance team in January, it was during the 2022 fiscal year end close so it was a hectic time to onboard. However, I had a lot of support from my onboarding buddies and the great people on my team.
What really surprised me is how relationships can be developed and nurtured even while working 100% virtually (going on camera helps 😊).
Q: What about your job excites you the most?
A: What excites me most about my job is that every day brings a new challenge, along with the opportunity to learn something new. I really enjoy building relationships with a diverse group of people—whether it’s within my team or collaborating cross-functionally with colleagues around the world. The constant variety and chance to grow, both professionally and personally, keeps me motivated and engaged.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? Do any of those childhood dreams persist today?
A: When I was a kid, I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to be, but I was definitely inspired by strong female characters like Ally McBeal, so I thought I might want to become a lawyer. Although I had the chance to pursue that path, I ultimately chose to take a different direction and went for the "glamorous" life of a CPA instead! That childhood ambition may have shifted, but I’ve always been drawn to roles that challenge me and allow me to make an impact.
Q: What is something in your personal life that you are passionate about?
A: I have a deep love for animals, which is why I recently joined the Board of Directors for the Kitchener Waterloo Stratford Perth Humane Society. It's a cause that's incredibly close to my heart, and I'm excited to contribute in a meaningful way.
I'm also passionate about physical fitness. In addition to regular workouts at the gym, I enjoy staying active with outdoor runs—typically 5Ks. Over the past two years, I've taken part in the Women's Triathlon Festival, completing the Sprint Triathlon each time and earning recognition as a top fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.
I grew up figure skating and absolutely loved it but stopped when I graduated high school. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to start skating with a team last year and am really enjoying doing that between September and April.
Q: Do you have any signature food dishes you’re known for?
A: I would say that I’m an okay cook… the dishes in which I’m most confident are barbequed Greek chicken with a Greek pasta salad.
Q: Do you have any books or movies you currently love that you would recommend?
A: I’ve always had a love for reading, and I typically read two books at once: one for pure enjoyment and the other for professional growth. Lately, I’ve been diving into psychological thrillers—Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll was a recent standout. For professional development, I highly recommend anything by Brené Brown, Radically Candid by Kim Scott, and Move Fast and Fix Things by Frances Frey and Ann Morris.
As for movies, I’m not much of a watcher, but I’m a big fan of podcasts. I’ve been listening to Happier by Gretchen Rubin for quite some time and find myself going back to it again and again. It’s always makes me smile.
Q: What do your weekends typically look like?
A: My weekends are usually a mix of staying active and enjoying downtime. I start with workouts at Orange Theory Fitness and take the dogs for walks along the trails near our house. I’ve also been a subscriber to Mirvish Theatres in Toronto since 2019, so I normally catch 6-7 shows or musicals a year.
On Sundays, football takes over our TV from September through February, which gives me the perfect excuse to curl up with a good book for some quiet reading time.
Learn how you can make a difference #AtTheKORE by visiting our careers page.
In a world obsessed with connections, from fast streaming services, to building personal networks, to even connected cities and homes, it is the personal connections that matter the most – that is why we are proud to introduce KORE Connections. This forum is a Q&A series where our thought leaders and innovators can share their perspectives on life, innovations, and business which could help you in building your own connections.